Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-10
LEGENDS ABOUT GErs.
Notes, Historical and Critical, ON
Celebrated Precious stones.

Notes, Historical and Critical, ON
Celebrated Precious stones. /,
birmingham Ens.) Daily PostI
| The recent lecture by Alfred Philips
has aroused the dormant interest IN o
subject which until lately occupied so
much attention among connoisseurs in
perhaps the most refined OF all the
arts-that OF the gem-engrayer, which,
in the medieval ages in Italy, ranked
higher than that OF either painting or
sculpture. There needs but to turn
to that wonderful book, "Wor-
lodges Gems" to behold the per-
lection to which the taste and pa
triotism of Englishmen had brought
the art of gem-engraviHg towards the
end of the last century. The late DIR.
Billing, by his magnificent display of
encouragement in this branch of this
art, has happily prevented it from dy-
ing out from want of support in Eng
land. 1t was curious to observe that
specimens furnished as illustrations in
the lecture given by Mr.. Alfred Philips
all belong to English amateurs. Lord
Ravelspoke, one Of the last OF the en-
thusiasts, contributed his famous Sa-
]ohir merUciiieur, once belonging to
the famous Egailite, Duke OF Orleans,
which has been carefully preserved
| from publicity for SO many years.
IL was said that the late Emperor
Napoleon III. had expressed such earn
est desire for possession of the gem
| that he had more than once offered the
most fabulous sums to obtain it. The
superstition of the time in which it
fourished on Egalites fat finger
sscribed miraculous powers to the
stone, and that in its depths had been
revealed the fatal destiny of its owner,
when he one day had lain himself
down TO rest in the park at st. Cloud.
The weather was hot $50 goes the story,
and as the Duke lay musing on the
varied chances of his own and of his
fathers life, wondering whittier the
sweeping doctrines of the Encyclope-
dists would lead the people, binding
ray of the MONDAY sun, piercing like
o flaming shaft through the leaves just
stirred by the wind above his head, fell
straight las he afterwards described the
occurrence), like pointed finger, upon
the sapphire which adorned his hand.
Beneath the ray of light it seemed to
increase in size and grow all ahame.
AN EXTRAORDINARY LEGEND.
In establishment he raised it to his
eye, and there beheld the scaffold, and
the headsman, and the surging crowd
nay, SO excited did he become that he
actually fancied he could hear the
trampling of the horses of the guard,
and the roll of the drums which an
nounced the arrival Of the cart bearing
the prisoner to his doom. Presently
the victim assembled the steps his back
was turned in another second he was
made to kneel before the block, and
then the face, pale and liyid,
full of horror and Indignation,
was recognized by the thrilled
gazer as his own Nine. de Cen
lis refers more than once in her
Memoirs" to the secret circumstance,
the memory of which now and then
overcame the poor, debauched Egalite
with dread and melancholy, but of
course was turned to laughter and
mockery by the high-born gamblers
and harlots of whom the Dukes society
was composed. The diamond naturally
occupied the greater portion OF the lee
turers attention, and he expressed the
greatest objection to the engraving OF
the diamond which has besn essaycd of
late, as it deteriorates from the value of
the stone, which is dependent on its
brilliancy.
The largest diamond in the world
the Draganza, belonging to the King
of Portugal-is said to weigh 1000
karats and to be worth G224, 900, 900.
1t is to be supposed that nobody has,
however. offered to purchase it. The
mad Queen Joanna always carried it
about her person, and every mo ming
dedicated it in all solemnity to st.
Jago, holding it in her grasp all the
time she laid it on the altar. The three
historical rubies, once also belongingto
the Crown of Portugal, said to have
been dropped by Don Sebastian in the
sand Of the beach at Tangiers, when he
landed on bis fight from his country,
are still hunted for by credulous trea-
sure seekers, and are supposed to be
only concealed for awhile until some
fisherman more lucky than his fellows
may bring them to light. Polish tradl-
ton tells of diamond concealed in the
treasure.vaults of the Saphieha family
at Warsaw, which is unique in the
world. possessing the faculty of re-
fleeing in brilliancy Of cUlor every OBJ
ject placed near it.
FREAKS OF FASHION.
In short. there is no end to the le-
gends furnished by the diamond in all
countries, and it is pity to behold the
trade decrease of its value in conse-
quence of the great quantity being
poured upon us from the Cape. Never
did fashion show more malevolent ca
price than in the case of the diamond,
for just as it becomes more easy OF ac-
QUESTION the usual, and once the only,
wearers Of the precious gem refuse to
acknowledge its value as an adjunct
TO the full-dress toilet. Indeed"
laments Mr.. Alfred Philips, "the
mode Of jewelled ornaments is dying
out, and no encouragement is, there
fore, offered to the skill and invention
of the jeweller" After the little pigs
and mice, the miniature elephants aud
Holsters, worn as embellishments to the
throat or forehead, q complete stand
still in the matter OF jewels has taken
place on the part of the Partisan ladies.
Earrings, not long ago worn by every
female, high and low, have almost
wholly disappeared, and the pen
dant, on which the English jewell
lers expended much care and sem
timent, has also disappeared. with
the neck-chain to which it be-
longed, in order to give place to the
collar OF ribbon or puffs of gauze,
clumsy and unbecoming, vet beheld at
all the fashionable balls of&he season.
II is thought that the ruby mines OF
Burmah will give new impetus to the
jewel trade when their produce reaches
England. Rubies are pronounced to
be fer more becoming to the complex
ion OF the English ladies than the dia-
mond, the latter being only fitted to |
adorn the dark features and raven hair
of the beauties Of the South.
The Eagle.
lBy telegraph 10 the Dispatch.l